Sajith Sivanandan, previously the Chief Executive Officer of Disney+ Hotstar, has been appointed President of Jio Mobile Digital Services. Announcing his new role on LinkedIn, Sivanandan described the opportunity as a chance to "build a suite of digital services at scale for Jio Mobile underpinned by AI."

A Distinguished Career at Disney+ Hotstar

Sivanandan joined Disney+ Hotstar in October 2022 and resigned in December 2024. During his tenure, he played a critical role in driving the platform's business operations in India. His responsibilities included setting strategic priorities and developing a product roadmap aimed at growth. Collaborating with local leadership in international markets and the Disney+ team in the United States, Sivanandan contributed significantly to Disney+ Hotstar’s global expansion.

Leadership Excellence at Google

Before Disney+ Hotstar, Sivanandan spent over 14 years at Google, where he held multiple leadership positions. He served as the managing director and business head for Google Pay and the Next Billion Users initiatives in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In India, he was instrumental in launching Google Pay from the ground up. He developed and executed strategies that drove the platform's rapid expansion, cementing its leadership in the country's digital payments market.

Jio’s Strategic Partnership with Disney’s Star India

In a significant development earlier in 2024, Reliance Industries Ltd. and The Walt Disney Company announced a joint venture to merge the operations of Disney’s Star India and Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., an associate company of Reliance. Sivanandan’s new role aligns with this collaboration, as Jio Mobile continues to innovate in the digital and media sectors.

With a proven track record of leading high-impact digital initiatives, Sajith Sivanandan's appointment as President of Jio Mobile Digital Services marks a promising step forward. His expertise in AI-driven innovations and strategic business growth is expected to shape Jio’s next phase of digital transformation.